Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-17
A POLITICAL ANOMALY.

The death Of Governor Bartlett. OF Cali.
iornia, reported in our dispatches yester'
day. will not necessarily cause such a great
political revolution in that State, Al many
Of the saneuine Republicans anticipate. 1t
is true that the Democratic, party as well
~ the people Of that commonwealth, sus'
tain q loss not easily repaired. Inasmuch
- the late Governor was q man OF great
ability, and unimpeachable integrity: The
promotion of Lieutenant Governor wafer
man 70 the executive chair is one OF those
strsnge enlgmas which many States Of the
East spasmodically experienced by the
death of their chosen Governor during his
term OF Office. Waterman never would
have been nominated by the Republicans.
had it been forseen by the delegates that
no would have been called upon to perform
the duties OF the ~0overnorship. His election
VA q surprise, and entirely accidental.
The American party, one OF the political
subsidiary organisations, which are always
prolific in their growth in the golden State,
endorsed the Republican nominee for Lieu
tenant Governor, and thus caused the
defeat OF the Democratic nominee, Hon. NJ.
F. Tarpey, q member OF the Democratic
National COMMITTEES. and although
running far ahead OF his ticket
when but few so-called American tickets
were polled, could not secure enough votes
to Offset the draught made by the Ameri-
can party in other localities. In his own
county. San Bernardino, Waterman ran
over 500 behind his ticket. It will thus be
observed that his people did not re-
gard his candidacy with particular enthusi-
Asm. In many respects, his selection was
very unfortunate. An avowed Know-noth-
ing, he may do some harm in certain quar-.
tiers, q self-admitted Railroad man, he may
defeat remedial legislation aimed at the
great anaconda Of C~alifornia-the. South.
ern Pacific. It is conceded by Democrats
and Republicans alike that he ia utterly in
competent and utterly devoid Of any re-
quirement SO necessary to properly exer-
else the functions of a;;Governor for 80 great
. State az Califosnia. Fortunately for the
people Of the State, the late Governor ha
already filed all the vacan
eies in Office: The power OF
Of removal is somewhat limited in. Cali.
iornia. The States Harbor, Insurance and
State Prison Commissions, all of which
bestow q great deal Of political patronage,
will remain Democratic during Waterman's
term. The only important removal the
present Governor can make will be that OF
Registrar VI Eicction OF q Francisco,
and, being an extremely bitter and uncom.
promising partisan. he will doubtless pro-
eeed to remove Registrar Walsh at once.
Tho Election Commission, however, is
Democratic. There is, therefore. no dan
ger Of having the fraud of '76 repeated in
the city by the Golden Gate. The
Senate OF the State has the
power Of confirmation, but as the Demo-
Gratis have to elect but six Senators out of
twenty to maintain control Of the Senate,
Mr.. Waterman may look for considerable
trouble should he attempt to revolutionize
the political status of the State. This is
the first political experience of the Cover
nor. As Presiding Officer OF the Senate he
wal q complete failure. For the greater
part of the session he vacated the chair,
and when he failed to do so simply made a
general exhibition of his total incompe-
tsncy. To emphasize the general impress
sion about him, it is simply sufficient to
declare that be has been struck politically
BY lightning. Governor Bartlett's death
will be sincerely incurred by all classes of
tho State OF California, irrespective of
party or creed. His devotion to public
duty, his services to his State, his unblem.
ished character, his unflinching integrity,
whether acting an Senator. Mayor or Gov.
srnor, and his estimable character as q
man, have endeared him to q grateful
people. His memory will ever be cherished
~ that Of one whose life was ever devoted
tho public veal, and finally sacrificed to
exertion in the performance of the
Of his high office.